Clashes in Madrid as thousands protest cuts

Protestors gather close to Spain's Parliament ahead of
a demonstration in Madrid September 25, 2012.

Riot police have ringed the Spanish parliament in Madrid after clashing with demonstrators as thousands of protesters gather for a march against austerity tagged "Surround Congress".
Watch the protests LIVE
Riot Police belted protesters, dragging some them by the arms and legs, who had tried to get through police lines. An uneasy order was restored and police have now ring fenced the Congress building and are facing off demonstrators.
Thousands of activists have congregated in Madrid’s Plaza de Neptune, 100 meters from the Congress building, to protest Spanish austerity measures.
The demonstrators pledged to march around the building, and called for new elections. Metal barriers have been placed around the building to block access from every possible direction.
Demonstrators waved banners with the slogan ‘No’ written on them, in reference to the austerity policies of the Spanish government.
Protesters said that today is a key day to level criticism against politicians and the Spanish government. The city stationed armored police vehicles bumper-to-bumper around the parliament building, and announced that around 1,300 police would be deployed to counter the protesters.

Public wants school data: poll

(New Zealand) Survey suggests most people want national standards data published.

The majority of people polled think schools should publicly release their national standards performance data.

Results from a Herald-Digipoll survey showed 60.3 per cent of people agreed that schools should be forced to release the information.

The survey showed that people aged 18-39 years old were overwhelmingly supportive of the idea, with 70.4 per cent wanting data released.

Of those in the 40-64 age group, 43.8 per cent agreed, while 34.6 per cent of those aged 65 or more felt the same.

However, NZ Principals Federation president Paul Drummond said he had spent years telling people why teachers felt the information would not be credible.

"I can understand why people would be interested in this data. But the information is one-dimensional and you just cannot compare data from one school to another, because they have all measured the national standards differently.

"We're not afraid of assessment data being made available to parents. Actually, it's the responsibility of the schools to let its community know how it is doing."



A total of 750 people from around the country were surveyed.

Mr Drummond said those in the 18-39 age bracket would most likely have a good understanding of NCEA data published by schools.

But it was a mistake to compare that information with national standards data put out by primary schools, as those children were younger, still developing and therefore still learning; while older students' ideas were very much developed by then.

The Ministry of Education is working with about 25 schools that did not send in data for last year.

Hikurangi Primary School principal Bruce Crawford said the school had long been against the implementation of national standards and had chosen to send in student results based on its own school's 2011 charter, rather than the national standards format.

"The ministry came back to us asking for it to be put in national standards format and we just thought, 'well no, sorry, we're not going to do that because it's ethically wrong'."

The school has since yielded and will start measuring students by national standards this year.

Mr Crawford said that because the school was in a decile-one area, students had to work harder to achieve. "Our people are working extraordinarily hard ... to make things work ... This data is just not a fair indication of how hard our kids work."

A former school principal who stepped down after pressure to implement national standards says ongoing issues with the system will eventually lead to its failure.

Louis Guy was the head of Auckland's New Windsor School for 22 years - 18 as principal - until he resigned at the end of last year.

Speaking to the Herald yesterday, Mr Guy said the release of schools' national standards information at the weekend meant that what he feared the most was already starting to happen. The data was "abusive against the parents and communities" because it deceived them into "thinking they can judge the schools reliably through very limited data".

-  nzherald.co.nz

Google launches Nexus 7 tablet in Japan

TOKYO —Google said it was launching its Nexus 7 tablet computer in Japan, aiming to take on Apple’s iPad in one of the most lucrative markets in the world.
The Nexus 7’s 16 gigabyte model, powered by the latest generation of Android software is available to order at Google Play and will hit store shelves on Oct 2. Priced at 19,800 yen, it comes in around half the price of the lowest spec third generation iPad available in Japan.
 A survey Google conducted showed 75% of Japanese smartphone owners use their devices for shopping. That points us to the next enormous growth business in Japan, adding there was a new wealth that can be created around the Japanese shopping experience.
Google’s Android operating system is the mainstay for many of Apple’s rivals in the lucrative smartphone industry, growing rapidly around the globe.
Google has launched Nexus 7 in other markets such as Australia, Canada, Britain, and the United States.

Panasonic to supply lithium-ion batteries for Toyota's eQ electric vehicle

OSAKA —Panasonic Corp announced that it will supply lithium-ion batteries for Toyota Motor Corp’s eQ electric car.
With growing environmental concerns and escalating oil prices, demand for rechargeable batteries for eco-friendly vehicles is expected to grow rapidly. Panasonic is building up its battery business to meet such demand.
The company is already supplying nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries for hybrid electric vehicles to a growing number of automotive manufacturers around the world, as well as lithium-ion batteries for hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles. Panasonic has already supplied lithium-ion batteries to Toyota’s Prius Plug-in Hybrid and Prius α hybrid.
The supply agreement with Toyota now expands to an all-electric vehicle model as well as hybrid and plug-in hybrid models.

Murata, Kowa develop personalized electric walking assist car

KYOTO —Murata Manufacturing Co has teamed up with Kowa Co, a general manufacturer of welfare products, to develop a personalized electric walking assist car that goes by the name of KeePace.
As a result of the progress made in assist control systems, which incorporate Murata’s MEMS gyro sensor and inclinometers as well as its inverted pendulum control technology, uphill mobility support and turning functions have undergone a quantum leap in improvement.
Murata’s technological PR robots the MURATA BOY bicycle-riding robot and MURATA GIRL unicycle-riding robot use inverted pendulum control technology centered on gyro sensors to detect the inclination of the robot body to achieve stopping without falling over, where the robot comes to a standstill without toppling over.
The company applied this technology and exhibited a concept model of an electric walking Aassist car at last year’s CEATEC JAPAN 2011. Now it has worked on the joint development of this kind of vehicle with Kowa, which has cornered a 50% share of Japan’s market for electric walking assist cars for the elderly and handicapped, as a personalized transport vehicle designed to be used by the elderly and the handicapped who have problems walking.
Incorporated in the assist control systems, which are a Murata core technology, are Murata’s MEMS gyro sensors and inclinometers and the inverted pendulum control technology that makes use of these sensors, and by the optimal design of the drive mechanism and control units, a smaller size has been achieved while the uphill mobility support and turning functions have been significantly enhanced.
Hideharu Ieki, Executive Vice President of Murata Manufacturing, says, We believe that there is still plenty of room for electronics to find uses in nursing care and welfare equipment.

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate percentage of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance between her and the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University's Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs—and wants—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.

Judge seeks more review of Chris Brown's probation

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge has ordered a further review of Chris Brown's community service and travel to determine whether the R&B singer has violated the terms of his probation for the 2009 beating of then-girlfriend Rihanna.

Brown appeared in court Monday for the first time in more than a year, and Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg tried to sort through Brown's probation record and the impact of a positive marijuana result during a random drug screening. Schnegg said community service logs from Brown's home state of Virginia were "somewhat cryptic" and additional review was needed to determine whether he had complied with his probation.

A spreadsheet sent by the Richmond, Va., police chief indicated Brown had completed 1,402 hours of community service, ranging from trash pickup, to washing cars, painting and tending to stables.

Brown spoke briefly during the hearing, telling Schnegg that he wasn't required to sign in when performing his service. His lawyer, Mark Geragos, welcomed the inquiry and said he expected to show that Brown had complied with all his probation terms.

The judge said Brown produced a medicinal marijuana prescription from California and that she had never ordered him not to use drugs, so the positive drug test may not have a major impact on his probation.

She warned Brown that while his marijuana use may have been legal, he needed to be mindful of his public image and his sway with young fans.

"You are not an average person who can sit in their living room and do what you want to do," Schnegg said, noting that Brown's mother was sitting in the audience of the courtroom. "You are not only in the public eye, but you are on probation."

Brown has had several high-profile incidents that have drawn negative attention, including a bottle-throwing New York City nightclub brawl involving his entourage and a group accompanying Drake. Brown received a cut on his chin, and neither entertainer was ever charged. A woman in Miami has also accused Brown of taking her cellphone away after she tried to take pictures of him outside a South Beach nightclub, but the singer has not been charged in that incident.

Schnegg urged him to be careful going forward.

"You should be mindful of obeying all rules of the courts," Schnegg said. "A lot of people look up to you — a lot of kids. What you do and what you say impacts other people."

Brown was sentenced to five years of supervised probation after pleading guilty to felony assault for his February 2009 attack on Rihanna. Before Monday, he had received positive reports from probation officials and praise from Schnegg. The judge ordered Brown to return to court Nov. 1 for another update.

Virginia officials also reported that Brown may have traveled to Paris without permission, but Schnegg said she has approved most of the singer's travel and would have to review that claim further.

Porta Nuova Geometrical Marni

Few shows have better summed up the new geometry trend dominating the current fashion season than the sensitively architectural Marni spring 2013 collection, presented Sunday, Sept. 23, in Milan.

Then again, the show's location did hint why. Marni stages their runway shows behind Porta Nuova, the giant skyscraper dotted redevelopment of north central Milan.

Just the banking and regional businesses are radically re-writing the Italian fashion capital's skyline practically every month, so Marni's thoroughly elegant collection suggested a new fashionable vernacular of sharp edged sculpted chic.

Semi circles and sliced dots dominated the checks that were the key fabric in this show; boxy handbags had geometric weaves - their very repetition adding to the modernist elan. Consuelo Castiglioni, creative director of Marni, ignited and led a huge movement in fashion of large vinyl and applique accessories. This season, her looked was stripped back - the few brooches and earrings made in carved wood.

The new high-tech influence even extended to the Geisha geta footwear; finished with metallic trim they will surely ignite a major trend.

"Clean, fresh but with controlled volume. Inspired by Carlo Mollino and Anni Albers ideas in Bauhaus," explained the designer, referring to fantastical Italian architect and the legendary German textile designer and printmaker.

Castiglioni also took a lot of risks with her silhouette - adding multiple peplums to flared skirts and dresses in a deft display of cutting. Yet, though buildings are required to be solid, these Marni clothes were almost weightless, many of the ribboned nylon coats and bonded leather tunics floating slightly off the body. Thus, even if they were voluminous, they looked light and airy.

The proposals for Ramenskoe and Zhukovsky.

Vice-premier Dmitry Rogozin has started an initiative to turn the experimental aviation airfield at Ramenskoe into a profitable airport that will increase international flights into the region - both from Russian and foreign airlines - as well as allowing for the delivery of military and industrial cargo and passenger flights. It is an ambitious project but one that could change the area significantly as the airfield, facilities and purposes of the airfield are changed and modernised.

The development of Ramenskoe itself is just the start of the changes and possibilities being proposed by Rogozin's plans. Between 2012 and 2013 a project will be undertaken to construct an additional platform at the Otdikh station, a move that should improve the transport links between that terminal and the airport for busy periods and events such as the MAKS air show. This development will possibly be followed up by improvements to the road junction at Lytkarino and the reconstruction of the vital road link that is the highway between the Moscow ring road and Zhukovsky.

Each of these proposals, from the initial developments of the airfield to the wider implications for transport and infrastructure have the potential to turn Zhukovsky into a viable venture but, as with all grand schemes of these nature, there are a number of obstacles to overcome.

The challenges that are faced by officials and developers.

There are so many organisations and departments involved in this venture that forming a cohesive, organised plan and carrying it out effectively and without complications is almost impossible. The Gromov Flight Research Institute must be consulted on air routes and airfield boundaries, the development is under the control of the Russian Technologies State Corporation's - which has admitted that without adequate support from the state the project cannot be profitable or manageable - and numerous government ministries are involved from Transport to Regional Affairs.

In order to make this project work and turn the airfield into the profitable expansion that it has the potential to be, all parties need to work together and collaborate but it would appear that some cracks are forming in the plans and the proposals may not run smoothly. Despite the apparent intentions of Rogozin to ensure that the activities of this experimental aviation facility are not disrupted or discontinued, there are many concerns - especially from the Gromov Flight Research Institute - that the proposals will lead to the possibilities of both test flights at the airfield being severely limited and the flights being cancelled all together. Additionally, Domodedovo's new runway was not constructed in coordination with Ramenskoe.

The future for Ramenskoe.

Exactly how these proposals will affect the region and the aviation future of Moscow remains to be seen, it certainly does not seem like an easy process. What it clear is that this venture has the potential to be profitable and positive.

Unconditional (2012)

Unconditional is an upcoming 2012 independent film, written and directed by Brent McCorkle, inspired by true events. It is the first film by Harbinger Media Partners, which aims to "produce high quality theatrical films that honor God and inspire viewers to pursue Him and serve others." The producers of the movie have partnered with a number of charitable and non-profit organizations to encourage moviegoers to meet the needs of others in their communities.

The film is based on the actual story of Joe Bradford, who grew up in a rural area of Tennessee. When he developed kidney disease, Joe and his wife Denise were forced to move to a low-income area of Nashville. When they arrived, they were confronted by the needs of the underprivileged children in their neighborhood. Joe and Denise began to reach out to them and also started directing a choir of inner-city children. Many of the fatherless children embraced Joe, who became known as "Papa Joe." Together with his wife, he founded Elijah's Heart, a non-profit organization, in 2005 to help children in need.

The film is the first feature-length project directed by Brent McCorkle, who also wrote the screenplay and edited the film. He previously worked on several short films, including The Rift, which won an award in the 2009 Doorpost Film Project.

Headline Sep26,2012 / ''Student Liam!''

''STUDENT LIAM!''

Photo by Oussama Houssaini / Morocco

One Mother who understands the devastating consequences of drugs being peddled home online is Sue Brackell. In June, 2003, her son threw himself under a train after being addicted to prescription drugs bought online and developing serious mental health problems. Powerful antidepressants, the anti psychotic olanzapine, and what he thought were codeine tablets but were actually counterfeits cut with morphine, all contributed to his condition.
''I am still very angry,'' she says. ''It's not only Liam -these people have a complete disregard for anything. As long as their customers have a credit card, that's all they care about.''

By the time of his death, Liam had tried 23 different types of prescriptions from Internet sites and businesses from as far afield as China, Hong Kong, South America Vanuatu in the Pacific.In reality, most websites claiming to be based in Western countries actually operate from developing countries where regulations are loose an even non existent. The Drugs are Fake, The locations are Fake and the Dealers are Fake.

Now, obviously, The Drug Firms may worry about their Brands and Profit Margins, but does the entire planet have really anything to fear from unscrupulous counterfeiters?? According to Professor Tony Moffat, the head of the Centre for Pharmaceutical Analysis at the University of London School of Pharmacy, the answer is ''absolutely''. Professor Moffat does extensive research on the problem of counterfeit drugs. In recent tests for a drug wholesaler, his team discovered that of 100 batches of Plavix, a blood thinner used after a heart attack, two of the consignments were fake.

The absence of active pharmaceutical ingredients in potentially life saving drugs is only half the problem, the other is what the counterfeiters replace them with.One ingredient that particularly worries Moffat is diethylene glycol, a toxic chemical used in antifreeze It is used in fake cough syrup, which he says has caused ''thousands of deaths''. The same chemical was found in counterfeit Sensodyne toothpaste at markets and car boot sales in Derbyshire.

The efficacy of the counterfeits may be questionable, but Nasim Ahmed stresses that all the drugs that were intercepted were found to contain 60 to 70 percent of the medicine's active ingredients. The Fakers are not stupid, he says. By ensuring that their pills work, at least a bit, they are more likely to avoid detection and to generate repeat orders. While the bulk of such counterfeits were once produced in India, China is now causing the MHRA its biggest headaches. ''In all cases that we have come across in the UK,'' says Nasim Ahmed, ''we strongly believe were sourced in China!''

Many thanks to !WOW! for its splendid work in service of Mankind.

Good ight and God bless!

Free Checking Accounts Inch Toward Extinction As Cost Of Banking Rises

(USA) If free checking accounts were animals, they'd be on the World Wildlife Fund's list of endangered species.

According to a new survey from Bankrate.com, only 39 percent of banks today offer non-interest checking accounts free of charge on a stand-alone basis, down from 45 percent of banks last year and 76 percent in 2009. Bankrate recently surveyed 247 banks in 25 cities across the United States.

As banks continue to search for new ways to boost profits as regulation, low interest rates and a sluggish economy have put the brakes on making easy money, consumers are getting slammed with higher ATM and overdraft fees.

The survey showed that ATM fees have inched up over the last year; the average cost a bank charges a non-customer is $2.50, though in many metropolitan areas it's even higher. Denver has the highest average ATM surcharges in the country, with banks dinging non-bank customers $2.80 on average, according to the survey. Overdraft fees also continue to creep up, rising 1.4 percent from last year for an average cost of $31.26.